My Son Goes Off to War in Afghanistan

Last week my wife and I traveled to Fort Hood, Texas to see our youngest son, 1st Lt. Christopher B. Lee, leave with his unit for a 15-month combat tour to Afghanistan. We visited him and his wife, Katie, and our eight-month-old granddaughter Avary, at their military-provided duplex housing on the fort located in Central Texas. Chris' unit, 1st Battalion of the 26 Infantry Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One), just missed the Pentagon's policy change of combat tours from 15 to 12 months, by two weeks. If he had been deployed on or after August 1st, his tour would have been 12 months. I hope his luck improves once he hits the ground in Afghanistan. In the weeks prior to his deployment, you could sense his anticipation and excitement about going. He had few, albeit valid, complaints that he had to deal with, such as leading a 40-man infantry platoon that comprises of only 30 soldiers. Some things he encounters didn't make any sense to this West Point graduate, but I reminded him not to lose sight of the fact he was in the Army, and that the Army's way of doing things can range anywhere from challenging to difficult. In any event, a 1st Lt. isn't in a position to make changes, even if he did graduate from West Point. Chris showed off his equipment he'll be taking and wearing when on patrol in Afghanistan's mountainous regions very near the Pakistan border. The wrap around bullet-proof vest alone weighed at least 50 pounds, and when you consider all the other necessary equipment, i.e. assault rifle, pistol, canteens, ammo magazines, grenades, radio, helmet, etc. he needs to carry, today's soldiers definitely need to be in top physical condition. Ever since my wife and I learned he was going to Afghanistan, our ears perk up when we hear news events from there. News like 300 or more Taliban and militants escaping from an Afghanistan prison after suicide bombers blew up the place. Almost immediately, these prisoners were back in the fight. Or, for the month of June, more U.S. and coalition casualties have occurred in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the first time. Not exactly the news we want to hear. And, not to mention, the news last week of another suicide bombing, this time at the Indian embassy in Kabul, that killed 41 people and injured another 100. On Thursday I drove us to Chris's unit where he drew his weapon from the arms room and I noticed the somber mood of many of the other soldiers there as they had their pictures taken, kissed their wives and held their small children. Within an hour, the order was given for everyone to bring their duffle bags and rucksacks a short distance away to a gymnasium for final instructions before departing to the airfield. Two older gentlemen, wearing polo shirts and hats that identified them as members of the "Military Order of the Purple Heart," shook hands with many soldiers. Coincidently, I spied an off-duty soldier who was fumbling with the right pants leg of his bell bottomed jeans. Then I noticed his lower right leg was actually a prosthesis. He was also there to wish his fellow soldiers well. So did the company and battalion commanders who were departing later that week. The 300 or so soldiers fell into formation and an Army chaplain said a prayer asking God to look over them and bring them home safely. At the end of the prayer, I was surprised and pleased to hear the Chaplain say, "Let's get it on in Jesus' name." There wasn't a dry eye in the audience of parents, wives, husbands, children, girlfriends and other family members as they watched the soldiers file out of the gym and board the buses. They would be taken to a chartered airplane that would fly them as far as Germany before boarding a military aircraft for Afghanistan. Our daughter-in-law, with tears streaming down her cheeks, stood beside the bus as it departed to wave again. No speeches were given, no bands played, but everyone there understood the seriousness of their mission, and the commitment these brave, young soldiers have made to protect their country. This same scene replays at many other major military installations throughout the country almost on a daily basis. May God bless them all.